Anthurium plant named `Claudiarijn`

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Anthurium plant named `Claudiarijn`, characterized by its upright, outwardly arching and very freely clumping growth habit; durable dark green leaves that are ovate in shape; numerous inflorescences that are positioned upright and above the foliage on strong and erect scapes; durable red spathes; year-round continuous flowering; and good post-production longevity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofAnthurium plant, botanically known as Anthurium andraeanum, andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name `Claudiarijn`.

The new Anthurium is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in Schipluiden, The Netherlands. The objective of theprogram is to create new Anthurium cultivars that have a freely clumpinggrowth habit, strong plant growth, attractive spathe color, numerousinflorescences and leaves, and good post-production longevity.

The new Anthurium originated from a cross by the Inventor on Feb. 21,1992 of the Inventor's proprietary Anthurium andraeanum selection codenumber 90-3 as the female, or seed, parent with the Inventor'sproprietary Anthurium andraeanum selection code number 90-6 as the male,or pollen, parent. The cultivar `Claudiarijn` was discovered andselected by the Inventor as a plant within the progeny of the statedcross in a controlled environment in Schipluiden, The Netherlands inMay, 1994.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar by tissue culture in alaboratory in Belgium has shown that the unique features of this newAnthurium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations of asexual propagation.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Anthurium has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however,any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of the cultivar `Claudiarijn`. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish `Claudiarijn` as a new anddistinct cultivar:

1. Upright, outwardly arching and freely clumping growth habit.

2. Durable dark green leaves that are ovate in shape.

3. Numerous inflorescences that are positioned upright and above thefoliage on strong and erect scapes.

4. Durable red spathes.

5. Year-round continuous flowering.

6. Good post-production longevity.

The new Anthurium can be compared to the female parent, the Inventor'sproprietary selection code number 90-3. In side-by-side comparisonsconducted by the Inventor in Schipluiden, The Netherlands, plants of thenew Anthurium differ from plants of selection code number 90-3 in thefollowing characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Anthurium have darker red spathes than plants ofthe selection code number 90-3.

2. Plants of the new Anthurium are more compact than plants of theselection code number 90-3.

3. Plants of the new Anthurium have more durable leaves than plants ofthe selection code number 90-3.

4. Plants of the new Anthurium have more durable and smaller spathesthan plants of the selection code number 90-3.

The new Anthurium can be compared to the male parent, the Inventor'sproprietary selection code number 90-6. In side-by-side comparisonsconducted by the Inventor in Schipluiden, The Netherlands, plants of thenew Anthurium differ from plants of selection code number 90-6 in thefollowing characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Anthurium have darker red spathes than plants ofthe selection code number 90-6.

2. Plants of the new Anthurium have thinner leaves with less pointedapex than plants of the selection code number 90-6.

Compared to plants of the sibling cultivar `Cora`, disclosed in U.S.Plant Pat. application Ser. No. 09/177,290, plants of the new Anthuriumare taller, have larger leaves and spathes, and have lighter red-coloredspathes. Compared to plants of the sibling cultivar `Saskia`, disclosedin U.S. Plant Pat. application Ser. No. 09/177,591, plants of the newAnthurium are taller and have larger leaves and spathes.

The new Anthurium can be compared to the nonpatented Anthurium cultivar`Lisette`. In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventor inSchipluiden, The Netherlands, plants of the new Anthurium differ fromplants of the cultivar `Lisette` in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Anthurium have smaller and thinner spathes thanplants of the cultivar `Lisette`.

2. Plants of the new Anthurium have a redder spathe color than plants ofthe cultivar `Lisette`.

3. Plants of the new Anthurium and the cultivar `Lisette` differ inspathe form.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Anthurium, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The photograph at the top of the first sheet comprises a sideperspective view of typical potted plants of the cultivar `Claudiarijn`.

The photograph at the bottom of the first sheet comprises a close-upview of a typical spathe and spadix of the cultivar `Claudiarijn`.

The photograph on the second sheet comprises a close-up view of atypical leaf of the cultivar `Claudiarijn`. Leaf, spathe and spadixcolors in the photograph may appear different from the actual colors dueto light reflectance.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe two-year old plants grown in Schipluiden, TheNetherlands, in a glass greenhouse with an average day temperature of25° C. and an average night temperature of 19° C.

Botanical classification: Anthurium andraeanum cultivar `Claudiarijn`.

Parentage:

Female parent.--Inventor's proprietary Anthurium andraeanum selectioncode number 90-3.

Male parent.--Inventor's proprietary Anthurium andraeanum selection codenumber 90-6.

Propagation:

Method.--Typical by tissue culture.

Time to initiate roots.--About 70 or 84 days at 24° C. or 21° C.,respectively.

Rooting habit.--Numerous and very strong fleshy roots.

Plant description:

Plant shape.--Upright, inverted triangle, symmetrical.

Growth habit.--Erect when young, becoming outwardly arching as plantsdevelop. Freely clumping, bushy and dense. Appropriate for 19 to 40-cmcontainers.

Plant height.--About 80 cm from soil level to apex of pathes.

Plant vigor.--High.

Growth rate.--Rapid.

Crop time.--About 10 months are usually required from planting of youngplants to finished plants in 19-cm containers.

Foliage description.--Quantity: Usually about ten leaves per clump.Length: About 28.5 cm. Width: About 18 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex:Apiculate. Base: Auriculate to cordate, lobes not overlapping. Margin:Entire. Texture: Smooth, glabrous, leathery. Color: Young leaves uppersurface: Brownish red to green. Young leaves, lower surface: Brownishred to green. Mature leaves, upper surface: 137A. Mature leaves, lowersurface: Darker than 144A. Petiole: Length: About 55 cm. Color: 144Awith slight anthocyanin. Geniculum: Length: About 3 cm. Color: Greenwith slight anthocyanin.

Inflorescence description:

Inflorescence arrangement.--Spathe with spadix held above the foliage.Flowering structures arise from leaf axils. Freely flowering; continuousflowering year-round; typically four to seven inflorescences per plant.Not fragrant.

Inflorescence longevity --Inflorescences last about six weeks underwinter conditions and up to three months under summer conditions;persistent.

Flowers.--Quantity of flowers per spadix: Numerous, about 150. Shape:Rounded. Diameter: About 1 mm, maximum.

Spathe.--Length: About 11 cm. Width: About 9 cm. Height above foliage:About 20 cm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Apiculate to cuspidate. Base:Auriculate to cordate: lobes not overlapping. Margin: Entire. Texture:Leathery, glabrous, very slight blistering, shiny. Color: When opening:45A to 46A. Front surface: 45B. Back surface: 47B. After senescence: 47Bto 47C.

Spadix.--Length: About 8 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm. Shape: Columnar.Cross section: Rounded. Longitudinal axis: Very weakly recurved. Color:Base: Creamy white with slight pink coloration. Mid-section: 36D. Apex:43C. Color, after senescence: 22A.

Scape.--Length: About 75 cm. Aspect: Strong and erect. Color: 144A withanthocyanin towards apex.

Reproductive organs.--Androecium: Pollen color: Creamy white, 158D.Gynoecium: Stigma shape: Ovoid.

Disease resistance: Plants of the new Anthurium have not been shown tobe resistant to diseases common to Anthurium.

Seed development: Seed development on plants on the new Anthurium hasnot been observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Anthurium plant named`Claudiarijn`, as